Staggered start-up HVAC system, a method for starting an HVAC unit and an HVAC controller configured for the same

• US 9,574,785 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2015
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stachler, John P., Walter, Stephen A., Bennett, Alan E., Mauk, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hartman, Jr., Ronald
• Application Number:
  US14/608,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20150142181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 700/210, 700276-277, 700/300, 165/200, 165/244, 165/247, 165/267, 236/1.B, 236/1.C, 236/44
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/50 characterised by user interfaces or communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/00 Tariff metering apparatus in taximeters G07B13/00; apparatus actuated by coins, cards or the like with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas, or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/00 Arrangements for measuring electric power or power factor G01R7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/127 by using pulse modulation G01R21/133 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 by using digital technique
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/1335 Tariff switching circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/00 Adaptive control systems, i.e. systems automatically adjusting themselves to have a performance which is optimum according to some preassigned criterion G05B19/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1393 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/00 Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures printed connections to, or between, printed circuits H05K1/11
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6456 comprising keying elements at different positions along the periphery of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 : The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/64 : The condition being economic, e.g. tariff based load management
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 25/04 : Single phase motors, e.g. capacitor motors
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 : the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 : Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/221 : General power management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 : Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/244 : the home appliances being or involving heating ventilating and air conditioning [HVAC] units
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 : Method of mechanical manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 : Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49147 : Assembling terminal to base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4935 : Heat exchanger or boiler making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49359 : Cooling apparatus making, e.g., air conditioner, refrigerator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

One aspect of the disclosure describes a controller for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit. In one embodiment, the HVAC controller includes an interface and a processor. In this embodiment, the interface is configured to receive a delay originating signal. In one embodiment, the processor is configured to: (1) automatically generate an offset delay value for the HVAC unit upon receipt of the delay originating signal; (2) apply the offset delay value based on an offset enabled configurable parameter; and (3) delay starting identified components of the HVAC unit based on the offset delay value.

Claims

1. A controller for a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) unit, comprising:

an interface configured to;

receive an originating signal, the originating signal indicating that a component of the HVAC unit requires starting;

receive an offset enabled configurable parameter, the offset enabled configurable parameter associated with a plurality of events for which delayed starting of the component of the HVAC unit is enabled;

receive a notification of an event associated with the originating signal; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the interface, the processor configured to;

automatically generate an offset delay value for the HVAC unit upon receipt of the originating signal;

apply the offset delay value based on the offset enabled configurable parameter and the event associated with the originating signal; and

delay starting the component of the HVAC unit based on the offset delay value.

2. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of events include a processor reset due to loss of network communications, or a network command.

3. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 1 wherein a user can set the offset enabled configurable parameter so that no events will delay starting the component of the HVAC unit.

4. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 1 wherein the offset enabled configurable parameter is a factory default setting.

5. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 4 wherein the factory default setting for the offset enabled configurable parameter includes power-on-reset (POR) and coming-out-of-night setback events.

6. A method for starting a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) unit, said method comprising:

receiving an originating signal at a controller for the HVAC unit, the originating signal indicating that a component of the HVAC unit requires starting;

receiving an offset enabled configurable parameter, the offset enabled configurable parameter associated with a plurality of events for which delayed starting of the component of the HVAC unit is enabled;

receiving a notification of an event associated with the originating signal;

automatically generating an offset delay value for the HVAC unit based upon receipt of the originating signal;

applying the offset delay based on the offset enabled configurable parameter and the event associated with the originating signal; and

starting the component of the HVAC unit based on the offset delay value.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein the plurality of events include a processor reset due to loss of network communications, or a network command.

8. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein a user can set the offset enabled configurable parameter so that no events will delay starting the component of the HVAC unit.

9. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein said offset enabled configurable parameter is a factory default setting.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein the factory default setting for the offset configurable parameter includes power-on-reset (POR) and coming-out-of-night setback events.

11. A heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:

a first and second HVAC unit, each HVAC unit including;

a refrigeration circuit having at least one compressor, a corresponding evaporator coil and a corresponding condenser coil;

an indoor air blower configured to move air across the evaporator coil;

an outdoor fan configured to move air across the condenser coil; and

a controller coupled to the refrigeration circuit, the indoor air blower and the outdoor fan, the controller having;

an interface configured to;

receive an originating signal, the originating signal indicating that a component of the first HVAC unit requires starting

receive an offset enabled configurable parameter, the offset enabled configurable parameter associated with a plurality of events for which delayed starting of the component of the first HVAC unit is enabled;

receive a notification of an event associated with the originating signal; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the interface, the processor configured to;

automatically generate an offset delay value for the first HVAC unit upon receipt of the originating signal;

apply the offset delay valued based on the offset enabled configurable parameter and the event associated with the originating signal; and

delay starting the component of the first HVAC unit based on the offset delay value, wherein an offset delay value for the first HVAC unit differs from an offset delay value for the second HVAC unit.

12. The HVAC system as recited in claim 11 wherein the plurality of events include a processor reset due to loss of network communications, or a network command.

13. The HVAC system as recited in claim 11 wherein a user can set the offset enabled configurable parameter so that no events delay starting the component of the HVAC unit.

14. The HVAC system as recited in claim 11 wherein the offset enabled configurable parameter is a factory default setting.

15. The HVAC system as recited in claim 14 wherein the factory default setting for the offset enabled configurable parameter includes power-on-reset (POR) and coming-out-of-night setback events.